The leadership of the Ethnic Communities’ Council (ECC) of New South Wales will remain in ‘Hellenic’ hands as a result of the outcome of the elections that took place in Sydney last Sunday.
The ticket led by Peter Doukas, who represents the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW and the Greek Orthodox Parish of Saints Constantine and Helen at Newtown at the ECC, won the election and will preside over the next two years.
Talking about his priorities as president he said that he wants “the ECC to remain at the forefront of the promotion of multiculturalism in NSW and Australia in general”.
“During my term emphasis will be given to the support of new and emerging communities in the state. We want to help new immigrants integrate smoothly into Australian society and we’ll aim to have more meetings in western Sydney, where many of these new communities are based.”
For established communities Mr Doukas said that “attention will be given to services for the elderly and to strengthen the teaching of languages. Help will also be given to recent arrivals in Australia from countries like Greece, Italy, Spain and other European countries who are experiencing financial difficulties”.
Jack Passaris, who served nine years as chairperson of the ECC, returns to the board as deputy-chairman. He also holds the position of honorary chairman and is a life member of the ECC. Other members of the new board who are of Hellenic background are Tasha Vanos, Maria Passaris and Fiona Passaris. In the elections for the ECC’s Chair were two other candidates, one of whom was the ex-chairman Emanuel Valageorgiou.
The annual general meeting took place at the ECC’s premises at Waterloo. In attendance were Mark Coore MP, representing the state government, the leader of the opposition, John Robertson MP, Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC representing the Greens, the retiring chairperson of the NSW’s Community Relations Commission Stepan Kerkyasharian and other dignitaries.
As part of the presentations last Sunday, the general manager of SBS, Michael Ebeid, elaborated on the organisation’s television programming planning, its changes to the SBS Radio schedules and other operating aspects of Australia’s leading multicultural media provider.